THE 



IOWA DAUGHTERS 



OF THE 



AMERICAN REYOLUTION 



BY 



CAROLINE C. BURBANK 




Reprinted prom the January 1904 Number of 
THE IOWA JOURNAL OP HISTORY AND POLITICS 
FOR THE Iowa Daughters of the American 
RBV01.UT10N BY The State Historicai. SoaETY 
OF Iowa Iowa City Iowa January 1904 






THE IOWA DAUGHTERS OF THE 
AMERICAN REVOLUTION 



THE IOWA DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN 
REVOLUTION 

The work of an organization like the Daughters of the 
American Revolution in a State like Iowa, remote not only 
from the seat of the Revolutionary War, but from all wars, 
must be vastly different from that in a section of country so 
full of places of historic interest that the need of such a 
working body is apparent to all. Living in a community 
where every family has traditions, where almost every per- 
son has some article treasured because of its age and associa- 
tions, and where the historic spirit is a natural growth of 
many decades, one does not need to ask: Why such a 
society? There is, however, plenty to do in Iowa. First 
of all, in every community the love of country and the per- 
sonal responsibility of every citizen to support the officers of 
our government in an honest and efficient administration 
must be impressed upon the people. While this is not the 
peculiar duty of our society, being the duty of every Amer- 
ican, it is so natural a product of our line of study and 
work that almost every chapter reports efforts in this line. 
In Burlington, Clinton, Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Council 
Bluffs, Davenport, Dubuque, Iowa City, Keokuk, Ottumwa, 
Marshalltown, and Red Oak the Daughters of the American 
Revolution have offered prizes for essays on patriotic sub- 
jects to pupils in the public schools, or have presented in- 
spiring pictures to ornament the walls of the schools and 



i» rr 



T^ 



libraries. Except in the case of the Ottiimwa school board, 
which refused, these pictures and prizes have been gratefully 
accepted. 

The Daughters of Marshalltown presented a flag to their 
public library. The Burlington women erected a flag -pole 
and presented a flag to their library. At Cedar Falls a flag 
was donated to the public schools, and at Chariton one was 
given to Lucas County. Many of the chapters have pur- 
chased flags which are used for decoration on social occa- 
sions, and are hung outdoors on important anniversaries and 
days of general rejoicing. The Francis Shaw chapter of 
Anamosa has erected an edifice for the public library at a 
cost of ^11,000. Such work must surely inspire a broader 
public spirit, and a lofty purpose in the community. 

Five soldiers who fought in the War for Independence 
are buried in Iowa. The graves of these five heroes have 
been identified beyond the question of any one who has 
given the study of Iowa history serious consideration. The 
grave of William Blair, near Kossuth in Des Moines County, 
has been marked by loyal descendants. John Osborne lies 
in the cemetery at Center Point, Linn County, and a suitable 
monument has been erected to his memory by Denison Post 
No. 244, G. A. E,., aided by the citizens of the village. 
The grave of Timothy Brown was found in September of 
this year (1903). Some years ago Mr. Charles Aldrich 
came into possession of a rare old file of The Western Amer- 
ican^ published at Keosauqua, Iowa, and read in the issue 
of June 17, 1852, that Timothy Brown, a revolutionary 
soldier, had died on the 30th of the previous month. At 
the request of Mr. Aldrich, Mr. H. A. Burrell, of the Wash- 



ington Press^ spent mucli time trying to identify this grave. 
The subject was afterwards revived and agitated by Mr. A. 
R. Miller of the Washington Democrat, and success re- 
warded his efforts. The "Timothy Brown American Revo- 
lution Memorial Association" has been formed to see that 
the last resting place of this patriot is properly cared for. 

In the Forest Home cemetery at Mount Pleasant a monu- 
ment has been erected to the memory of Charles Shepherd. 
The body of this old soldier lies in a cultivated field, a part 
of the forty acre tract which he had bought with the money 
paid by a grateful government in the form of a pension, 
and on which he lived, died, and was buried. The inscrip- 
tion upon the stone reads: 

Charles Shepherd, a Soldier of the Revolution, 

Born Dec. 25, 1763, 

Died September, 1845. 

Served 4 Years, 5^ Months, 

Was in the Battle of Brandywine and Germantown. 

Was Buried ON THE N, E. i S. E. ^ of Sec. 17, Twp. 72, N.,R. 7 W. 

Erected by the State of Iowa, 

Aided by McFarland Post, G. A. R. and the D. A. R. 

Pro Patria Dulce et Pecorum est. 

Acting upon the suggestion of Mrs. Julian Richards, then 
the State Regent, a committee from the Abigail Adams chap- 
ter, supported by the Daughters of the whole State, se- 
cured from the Twenty -ninth General Assembly an appro- 
priation of $500. This money was expended under the 
direction of the G. A. R. in Mount Pleasant, and on Septem- 
ber 17, 1903, they dedicated the monument with appropri- 
ate ceremonies. There is a chapter of the Daughters of the 



Revolution in that city, and two of their number were in- 
vited to assist the Daughters of the American Revolution in 
the unveiling. Mrs. John F. Kerfoot of Ottumwa and Miss 
Emily Beckwith of Mount Pleasant, members of the Eliza- 
beth Ross chapter, represented the Daughters of the Amer- 
ican Revolution in this part of the exercises. 

The completely identified grave of George Perkins, near 
Primrose, in Lee County, still remains unmarked. The 
Keokuk chapter has had some correspondence with the Hon. 
J. P. Cruikshank of Fort Madison, a descendent of this 
patriot, and voted on February, 1903, to invite the Jean 
Espy chapter of Fort Madison to cooperate with it in secur- 
ing funds and erecting a monument in grateful remembrance 
of the services of George Perkins in assisting in securing 
American independence. 

In a recent report to the National Society of the Daugh- 
ters of the American Revolution appears the name of Abra- 
ham Clarke, who is said to have been a soldier in the Revo- 
lution. He is buried in Woolen's graveyard near Lowell, 
Iowa. His name is not on the pension list at Washington. 
To ascertain what were his services and whether his grave 
is suitably marked is work for Iowa Daughters. The Stars 
and Stripes chapter of Burlington has material for original 
research in its own city. A British soldier of the w^ar of 
1776 lies buried there, and a Revolutionary patriot is 
claimed. The data concerning these men should be col- 
lected and published, and if possible the graves should be 
identified and marked. 

The history of Iowa is that of a quiet and prosperous peo- 
ple. The State is young; and there are still living those 



who can point out to us the places where the first settle- 
ments were made, where important matters were first pro- 
posed, and what were the conditions which confronted the 
pioneers. The Iowa Band and what it accomplished will be 
a topic of surpassing interest to future historians of the edu- 
cational and religious life of America, as well as the early 
struggles of all our educational institutions.^ Let us not 
despise these beginnings, but rather let us preserve the 
records and respect the efforts of the self denying pioneers. 
There were older and stronger institutions in Europe when 
Harvard and Yale and Dartmouth were founded. Doubt- 
less there were, among the Colonists, those who sneered at 
the struggling, poorly equipped schools which are now our 
venerated universities, second to none in the world in their 
special lines of work. The donation of forty dollars to Coe 
College (Iowa) by the Cedar Rapids chapter was a step in 
the right direction. Its moral support will be of infinite 
value to this institution. 

Every chapter in Iowa can find work well worth the 
doing in its own locality in preserving the record of what 
has been done, so that those who come after us may know 
what the early conditions were. Every chapter can cooper- 
ate with the State Historical Society of Iowa, at Iowa City, 
not only by reading The Iowa Journal of History and 
Politics, but by furnishing its editor with local data of in- 
terest. The Iowa Hall of History at Des Moines, stands 
ready to receive all manner of things of historic interest. 
No better place could be selected for the preservation and 
exhibition of revolutionary and other relics. 

1 See Adams, The Iowa Band. 



The grave of Black Hawk is said to be known by persons 
now living. This great chief was so intimately associated 
with early Iowa history that places known to have been 
frequented by him and his last resting place will always be 
of interest to those for whom the history of the race has a 
charm. The Stars and Stripes chapter has announced its 
intention to preserve the large rock where Black Hawk held 
his council of war. The story of the life of this old Indian 
is a fascinating subject for chaj^ter study. ^ 

The Abigail Adams chapter of Des Moines has determined 
to erect a suitable marker to indicate the location of the old 
Ft. Des Moines. The last detachment of soldiers left this 
old fort March 10, 1846. On November 13, 1903, the new 
Ft. Des Moines was opened with elaborate exercises. On 
the evening of November 23, the D. A. B. gave an "Old 
Settlers' Tea" in the Iowa Hall of History. On this occa- 
sion several of the oldest settlers spoke, refreshing the mem- 
ory of the old days when Des Moines was a frontier post. 
This tea was given with a view to extending a knowledge of 
the history of the city, and interesting the people in the 
work of the chapter. The committee having the work in 
charge have met with the most cordial cooperation. 

As we look back over the ten years which have passed 
since the first chapter was founded in Des Moines in 1893, 
and recall that there was only now and then a Daughter of 
the American Revolution to be found in the State, and then 
think that today we have about seven hundred and fifty 
members, with twenty -three organized and seven unorgan- 



^ See Stevens, The Black Hawk War, an exhaustive history of Black Hawk, re- 
cently published. 



ized chapters in Iowa, the vast organization itself seems 
work enough to have been accomplished in a decade, were 
it only now ready to begin work, instead of already having 
accomplished much of value. 

Mrs. C. E. Putnam of Davenport, our first State Regent, 
was a charter member of the National Society. She was 
succeeded in office by Mrs. J. A. T. Hull of Des Moines, 
who later became a Vice-President General of the National 
Society of Daughters of the American Revolution. Mrs. 

D. N. Cooley of Dubuque followed, serving the society for 
four terms as State Regent, and her successor was Mrs. C. 

E. Armstrong of Clinton, who served two terms. The first 
State conference was called by Mrs. Armstrong. The meet- 
ing at Clinton was such a success that an annual gathering 
of the chapters has become one of our institutions. Mrs. 
Julian Richards of Waterloo, now Vice-President General, 
called the conference to order at Waterloo during her first 
term, and last year again presided over the same body at 
Des Moines, where the Abigail Adams chapter acted as 
hostess to the Daughters of the American Revolution of 
Iowa. This year the Daughters gathered to greet their 
present State Regent, Mrs. Maria Purdy Peck, as guests of 
her chapter in her own city — Davenport. 

To become a Daughter of the American Revolution one 
must be descended from an ancestor who rendered substan- 
tial service in securing American independence. In most 
cases this ancestor is several generations back. When her 
own father was a revolutionary patriot a member is called a 
"Real Daughter" and the society delights to honor her. 
Such members are exempt from the usual dues, and are pre- 



10 

sented with a special souvenir from the National Society of 
the Daughters of the American Revolution. 

Iowa claims ten "Real Daughters," only four of whom 
survive: Mrs. Sophia M. D. Andrews, a member of the 
Abigail Adams chapter of Des Moines; Mrs. Emily Smith 
Reed Nettleton, a member of the Martha Washington chap- 
ter of Sioux City; Mrs. Eliza A. Melvin Shrader, of tlie 
Pilgrim chapter of Iowa City; and Mrs. Susan Antoinette 
Wood Ostrander, of Council Bluffs. The Abigail Adams 
chapter claimed Lucy Fellows Sibley of State Center, as a 
member. The Hannah Caldwell chapter of Davenport has 
lost by death both of its real Daughters: Mrs. Julia Ann 
Warrington Weaver and Mrs. Electa N. Van Vleck. Clinton 
mourns the loss of Mrs. Chauncey Lamb, and Cedar Falls' 
two Real Daughters, Mrs. Mary Ann Luther Burr and Mrs. 
Catherine M. Roadman, have also passed away. 

The natural result of a society founded on historical re- 
search is an interest in providing permanent and accessible 
records of the subject we have found so absorbing. The 
Francis Shaw chapter of Anamosa leads all the chapters in 
the State in work accomplished, and few chapters in any 
State can at present make an equal showing. Worthy 
descendants of patriotic sires are these women who have 
builded for their city a handsome edifice for their public 
library. They have also given programs of so much inter- 
est that they have been repeated by request for the benefit 
of the public. The History of the Mass^ which was first 
given in the chapter meeting and repeated in the Catholic 
church later, was selected as a subject partly because of the 
beauty of the music and partly that the ceremony so often 



11 



heard might be rightly understood. At the close of the 
program a collection for the benefit of the hospital was 
taken, and $59.83 was raised for a worthy cause, in addition 
to the program of rare beauty and value which the people 
of Anamosa were permitted to enjoy. 

For three years the Clinton Daughters have been working 
to establish an historical department in their public library. 
The Dubuque chapter has already contributed $150 to 
furnish an historical corner in the city's beautiful new library 
building. The chapter in Keokuk has started an historical 
collection for the public library. The chapter in Council 
Bluffs gave two lectures, the proceeds of which were devoted 
to providing the high school with historical books of refer- 
ence. Several chapters have placed The American Monthly 
and The Spirit of '76 in their public libraries. 

This natural desire to preserve the record of the past is 
manifesting itself in the National Society of the Daughters 
of the American Revolution in the great undertaking of 
building Continental Hall in Washington. To this end con- 
tributions have been sent from the Francis Shaw chapter of 
Anamosa, the Spinning Wheel chapter of Marshalltown, the 
Stars and Stripes chapter of Burlington, the Elizabeth Ross 
chapter of Ottumwa, the Pilgrim chapter of Iowa City, the 
Abigail Adams chapter of Des Moines, the Dubuque chapter, 
the Council Bluffs chapter, and the Cedar Rapids chapter. 

To help sufferers from unavoidable disasters has been a 
spontaneous movement. Besides large contributions of 
clothing, bedding, etc., from individual members, the Abi- 
gail Adams chapter contributed $10 in money to the suffer- 
ers in Des Moines in the spring of 1903. In 1901 this chap- 



12 

ter sent $10 to the Jacksonville sufferers. The Spinning 
Wheel chapter of Marshalltown sent money to the Jackson- 
ville sufferers, as well as responding to other calls for relief. 
The Hannah Caldwell chapter of Davenport maintains a 
room in McCowan Hall for self-supporting young women. 
The Stars and Stripes chapter of Burlington sent $10 to the 
Jacksonville sufferers in 1901. It made a donation of soap 
to the hospital as a memorial offering to one of its deceased 
members. The Pilgrim chapter of Iowa City and the Cedar 
Rapids chapter each sent $5 to the Jacksonville sufferers. 
The DeShon chapter in Boone has furnished a room in the 
Eleanor Moore Hospital, and maintains it. 

Iowa chapters have contributed various sums to objects of 
interest outside of the State. We had a part in presenting 
to France the statues of Lafayette and Washington. When 
the chapter in Augusta, Greorgia, appealed to us for aid in 
buying the Meadow Garden Farm, that the home of a signer 
of the Declaration of Independence might be preserved and 
used as a chapter house by local Daughters, Iowa responded 
cordially. Contributions were also made to the Harrison 
portrait fund and toward the preservation of Washington's 
old church. 

At the request of the Tennessee Daughters a committee 
was appointed from the Abigail Adams chapter to call the 
attention of the Iowa delegation in Congress to the bill con- 
cerning the Appalachian forest reserve. Courteous respon- 
ses were received from every member of the delegation, as 
well as a personal letter from Congressman James W. Wads- 
worth, the chairman of the committee on Agriculture. The 
bill was favorably reported, but did not come to a vote at 



13 

the last session of Congress because of the lack of time to 
pass on all bills before that body. The Stars and Stripes 
chapter petitioned Congress to convert Valley Forge into a 
national park. Under the leadership of Mrs. C. E. Arm- 
strong, then State Regent, the society petitioned the Iowa 
lec^islature to erect suitable monuments to the soldiers who 

o 

fell on the field of Chickamauga. 

During the late war with Spain the National Society of 
the Daughters of the American Revolution served as exam- 
ining board for female nurses, and Surgeon - General Stern- 
berg was so well satisfied with their work that others from 
other organizations to assist in this work wei-e rejected, and 
most of the female nurses serving in the war were selected 
by our committee. The Abigail Adams chapter recom- 
mended Miss Delia Weeks, who was with our troops till the 
close of the war. She afterwards attended one of the chap- 
ter meetings in Fdipino costume and told many interesting 
tales about the Philippines and showed many curios from 
there. The Abigail Adams chapter also presented the 51st 
Iowa Volunteers with a regimental banner of blue silk with 
^old lettering. This banner the regiment carried during the 
war, and it occupied a conspicuous place on the auditorium 
platform when the reception to the soldiers was given on 
their return. It now rests with the other battle flags of the 
Iowa troops in the rotunda of the capitol. At this recep- 
tion the Daughters, dressed in Colonial costumes, occupied 
boxes at the left of the stage. The members of this chap- 
ter all joined the Red Cross Society, thus contributing to 
the needs of our troops through that body. A committee 
was appointed to assist the Red Cross in its hospital work at 



14 

Camp McKinley, and nurses and watchers wei-e always ready 
to serve. Mrs. C. H. Gaylord and Mrs. E. G. Pratt spent 
much time in this service, watching night after night at the 
hospital and soliciting delicacies for the sick men. 

The Council Bluffs chapter contributed a banner to the 
John L. Moore Post, Army of the Philippines, which cost 
$84. In addition to this they contributed $25 to the army 
fund. The Hannah Caldwell chapter sent ''J>50 and clothing 
and delicacies to the hospital at Jacksonville. The Keokuk 
chapter sent nine boxes to the soldiers. The Stars and 
Stripes chapter of Burlington sent $25, and also made up 
125 yards of material in bandages and sent them to the mil- 
itary hospitals. The Pilgrim chapter of Iowa City sent 
$41.25 and many books and magazines. The Elizabeth 
Ross chapter of Ottumwa sent $54.50 to Company G, 50th 
Iowa. It gave to the 3rd Nebraska Volunteers passing 
through the city, coffee, milk, fruit, and jelly. It distributed 
among the sick soldiers scattered about the city game, fruit, 
nuts and flowers. It sent 500 pounds of reading matter to 
the 3rd Regiment Engineer Corps at Macon, Georgia, the 
49th Iowa Volunteers in Cuba, and the 51st Iowa at Mili- 
tary hospital in Manila, and later sent 24 pounds more to 
Manila. 

Services in time of war and assisting in securing desired 
legislation in time of peace must, from the nature of the 
case, be spasmodic. The organization is ready to respond 
to calls. Its regular work must be the preservation of his- 
toric landmarks and documents, and the study of the lessons 
which the past has for us. The program of the chapters are 
in the main historical studies. While events and biog- 
raphies of persons of Revolutionary times lead all other sub- 



15 



jects, some intensely interesting programs in local history 
are reported. The Elizabeth Ross chapter reports an after- 
noon spent on the history of Wapello County, with a talk 
by Major Hamilton, an old settler, in addition to a com- 
prehensive paper by Mrs. D. A. Laforce. An occasional 
musical program is provided hj way of diversion. On 
many programs musical numbers are interspersed with those 
of an historical or literary character. With few exceptions 
the chapters emphasize the social side. The most active 
chapters in other lines seems to find strength for work and 
inspiration in a cup of tea and a visit after their regular 

programs. 

The Spinning Wheel chapter of Marshalltown founded 
the first society of Children of the American Revolution in 
the State. Dubuque also has a chapter of the Children of 
the American Revolution. This work is inspiring in itself 
and a great feeder for the parent organization. 

When the State Federation of Women's Clubs held its 
biennial meeting in Council Blufl's, the chapter there assisted 
in their entertainment. The Abigail Adams chapter of Des 
Moines performed the same pleasant duty last May when the 
Federation met in Des Moines. 

Mrs. Lewis, the author of Old Thirteen, a song which 
was sung at the last Continental Congress, and which has 
formed a part of many a chapter program, was a member of 
the Old Thirteen chapter of Chariton. Her death was a sin- 
cere sorrow to the members of this chapter. 

The Jean Espy chapter of Fort Madison has an honorary 
member— Mrs. Rachael Albright, aged ninety-one years, who 
is a granddaughter of Betsy Ross. Mrs. Albright lived with 
her grandmother until she was twenty-four years old. In 



16 

the back of the Fort Madison year-book appears a picture 
of some interesting Betsy Ross relics. 

The Dubuque chapter has been fortunate in being able to 
entertain some distinguished visitors, Governors Cummins, 
Archbishop Keane, and Senator Allison being among the 
guests. 

Many of the chapters put their meetings upon days of his- 
toric interest, but a majority meet regularly and celebrate 
the days especially important with social affairs or entertain- 
ments. Washington's Birthday and Flag Day seem the fav- 
orite gala days. 

Nearly all the chapters publish year-books containing at 
least the by-laws and directory. Many contain the year's 
program as well. Only one — Keokuk — contains the chap- 
ter history for the preceding year. This, and a brief sketch 
of the chapter heroine, which appears in the Hannah Cald- 
well year book, are splendid features, not only adding greatly 
to the interest of outside readers, but to the information of 
the chapter members as well. A list of the national officers 
and the name and address of the State Regent makes a very 
useful as well as an appropriate page. 

To sum up the work of this the first decade, dwelling a 
little upon the splendid growth of the organization, and tak- 
ing pride in the spirit of generosity which has governed its 
work, all must feel that the Iowa Daughters of the Amer- 
ican Revolution have it in their power to accomplish great 
things in the future. The record certainly justifies the exist- 
ence of such an organization. 

Caeoline Clifford Burbank 
The Abigail Adams Chapter 
Des Moines, IqwA 



Iowa's Real Daughters 

3343 Mrs. Sophia M. B. Andrews, Abigail Adams Chapter, Des 

Moines. 

*27246 Mrs. Mary Ann Luther Burr, Cedar Falls Chapter, Cedar 
Falls. 

25637 Mrs. Susan A. Wood Ostrander, Conncil Bluffs Chapter, 
Council Bluffs. 

*26805 Mrs. Catherine M. M. Roadman, Member at Large, Cedar 
Falls. 

*26V86 Mrs. Lucy Fellows Sibley, Abigail Adams Chapter, State 
Center. 

*23824 Mrs. Julia A. W. Weaver, Hannah Caldwell Chapter, Dav- 
enport. 

*7138 Mrs. Jane Bevier Lamb, Clinton Chapter, Clinton. 

23382 Mrs. Eliza A. M. Shrader, Pilgrim Chapter, Iowa City. 

* 166 19 Mrs, Electa N. Van Vleck, Hannah Caldwell Chapter, 
Davenport. 

23838 Mrs. Emily S. R. Nettleton, Martha Washington Chap- 
ter, Sioux City. 



* Deceased. 



Iowa Chapters at the Close of the First Decade 



NAME 

Abigail Adams Chapter 
Cedar Falls Chapter 
Cedar Rapids Chapter 
Clinton^Chapter 
Council Bluffs Chapter 
De Shon Chapter 
Dubuque Chapter 
Elizabeth Ross Chapter 
Estherville Chapter 
Ft. Dodge Chapter 
Ft. Madison Chapter 
Francis Shaw Chapter 
Hannah Caldwell Chapter 
Keokuk Chapter 
Martha Jefferson Chapter 
Martha^Washington Chapter 
Marshalltown Chapter 
Mayflower Chapter 
Old Thirteen Chapter 
Pilgrim Chapter 
Spinning Wheel Chapter 
Stars and Stripes Chapter 
Waterloo Chapter 



P1>A0K 


MEMBERS 


Des Moines 


110 


Cedar Falls 


32 


Cedar Rapids 


26 


Clinton 


71 


Council Bluffs 


40 


Boone 


22 


Dubuque 


64 


Ottumwa 


45 


Estherville 





Ft. Dodge 


— 


Ft. Madison 


37 


Anamosa 


54 


Davenport 


40 


Keokuk 


36 


Manchester 


8 


Sioux City 


45 


Marshalltown 


18 


Red Oak 


17 


Chariton 


11 


Iowa City 


24 


Marshalltown 


22 


Burlington 


48 


Waterloo 


33 



LIBRftRY OF CONnPccc 

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